Radio apparatus



H. P. PRATT RADIO APPARATUS April 9, 1940.

Original Filed March 31, 1923 0K? mum's i Reissued Apr. 9, 1940 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 21,420 RADIO APPARATUS F. G and George S. PrattRadio Trust 111., assignor, by P. Pratt, William Original No. 2,010,463,dated August 6, 1935, Se-

rial No. 628,962,

for reissue August 6,

11 Claims.

My invention has for its object the method of and apparatus forincreasing the strength, activity and intensity of. the electricaloscillations in radio, power, metal or wireless circuits, and consistsprimarily, of the introduction into said circult of a vacuum tube withsealed-in terminals or electrodes. By electrical, magnetic, luminous,caloric, energy-radiant, electro-chemical and mechanical means, mymethod and apparatus will establish, maintain and stabilize anelectrical circuit between the terminals within said vacuum tube,through the conducting medium and polar action of the material particlesthat remain in said tube, or are added to said tube after partialexhaustion has taken place. By such means I am able to utilize andincrease the potential energy stored up in the atomic structure orsubdivisions of matter within the vacuum tube. By means herein describedI am able to increase, decrease, concentrate and control anddirectionalize the movements of said material particles, electrons,atoms and molecules in said tube, and to ionize and electrolyze and tosplit up and combine electro-chemically said material particles. Asherein used, material particles refers to all elements as metals, gases,etc.

A further object of my invention is to increase or decrease the numberof electro-magnetic and electro-static lines of force within the vacuumtube and to use said lines of force with their potential energies tocontrol the velocity, the direction, and the velocity and direction ofthe atoms, molecules, ions, moving particles and gases, so that theforce of impact of these moving entities when substantially impressedupon the electrodes in partial vacuo will serve to increase and regulatethe activities of the moving entities and change the number of lines offorce and the potentials between terminals in the tube, thus varying thestrength of the signals or impulses. The speed and impact of the atoms,moving particles, etc. which is part of my discovery depend wholly uponthe potential energy released and the free path in the tube.

A further object of my invention and discovery consists in receiving theinitial signals or impulses which are delivered to or transmitted fromthe antenna of a radio apparatus, passing them through what is commonlyknown as a primary wire, coil, spiral or solenoid or an equivalentelectrical conducting medium, which may be at- ;ached to, or in circuitwith a tuning device.

In one of my constructions hereinafter ex plained, a vacuum tube issurrounded with a coil, spiral or solenoid which causes said tube to actin the capacity of a core, placing the tubes contents in anelectrostatic and electromagnetic field, any oscillatory or pulsatoryimpulses or other signals, passing through the coil, spiral or vacuumtube, or both, directly or inductively serve to March 31, 1923.Application 1937, Serial No. 157,761 (Cl. 250-275) augment and increasethe activity of the material particles in said tube which necessarilyresponds to the oscillatory tuned impulses and when the initial signalpasses to the point of transformation, amplification and detection, thesignals or impulses become considerably strengthened and aligned.

When a signal passes into or out of a vacuum tube of my construction,the material particles within the tube are influenced according to theirpolarities and respond to the directive energy, that is to say in onedirection or another, depending on the direction in which the signalsare passing. If oscillatory or alternating, a forward and back spiral ordirect movement is produced. If pulsatory, the movement created, passesin one direction.

In my discovery and construction, the service of the filament-platecircuit acts as a conducting medium only, for the purpose oftransferring the superimposed impulses along the directional line offorce as discussed by me, in the circuit to the receiving instrument,and to more securely establish the electrical connection between thefilament and plate electrodes completing the circuit through the mediumof the said material particles in the tube.

In the case of the present highly exhausted, filament-heated-tube, thenegative electrons serve to make it a one-way or uni-directionalcurrent. The other two currents, the filament-plate, and oscillatoryfrom the grid, are not miscible. The superimposed current follows thedirection and movements of the lines of force in the circuit.

Consequently, the filament-plate circuit maintains a constant voltage.The superimposed impulses With their varied potentials and oscillationsshould produce practically no effect whatsoever on the filament platecircuit potential, which. always maintains its integrity. Any variationsthat may take place in the filament-plate circuit, if any, are due toimperfect control of the tube action from other sources, than that ofsuperimposed impulses.

Diiiiculty has been experienced with the present three-element tube bydepending upon the movements of the electrons without taking intoconsideration the atomic gas value contents and control of same withinthe tube. The stream of negative electrons when leaving the filament arethrown off in all directions after attacking the plate and are shiftedthrough repellent forces from the plate to the grid and then thenegative stream of electrons through repulsions are split up, moving inevery direction, completely filling the unoccupied portion of the tube,until every particle is repelling every other particle without followingany definite direction. Consequently, all of the negative electronsexist in a disordered or non-directionalized state. This permits thetube to respond readily to all disturbing influences superimposed ornot, brought in with the incoming oscillatory tuned-in signals, of allsorts and kinds resulting in the production of the whistling sound aswell as any other inductive or so-called static disturbances so annoyingto the listener.

These undesirable inductive and static disturbances, are frequentlyproduced within the local circuit, and are strong enough to cause akickback, or convert the oscillations of an incoming signal, into theoscillations of an outgoing or transmitting signal. with the result thatthe squealing and whistling noises, are set up in the neighboringreceiving sets.

My invention overcomes these difllculties by the release of the energystored up in the atomic structure. and utilizing this energy within thetube, to control and direct the incoming and outgoing signals.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated what I now consider thepreferred form of an. embodiment of the essential features of myinvention with several modifications thereof and in this drawing.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view or a tube having three spiralelectrodes therein.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through said vacuum tube takenon lines 2-4 of Figure 1, showing the filament spiral.

Figure 3 is a transverse tube on line 3-3 of Figure rim or disc.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal, sectional skeleton view of a vacuum tube,similar to Figure 1, having a solenoid surrounding the outer surface ofthe tube.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal skeleton section of a acuum tube with tworeflecting and deflecting surfaces connected with an electrical sourceof energy; interposed between the reflecting surfaces; is a hot filamentwhich may be attached to and serve as a grid. illustrating by brokenlines the path of a single line of force, starting from the center.

Figure 6 is another longitudinal skeleton section of a vacuum tube witha solenoid surrounding it, to which may be attached inductively orotherwise a tuning device.

Figure '7 is another longitudinal, skeleton section of a vacuum tubewith two reflecting and deflecting surfaces which may or may not beconnected to an electrical source of energy, and having spiralelectrodes attached to any suitable electrical source of energy for thepurpose of heating the center of the spirals.

Figure 8 is a similar view illustrating the three elongated spiral wireelectrodes extending the full length of the tube. Any one or all may beconnected to any suitable electrical source of energy. Surround ng thecenter spiral or filament is a non-conductor or dielectric. constructedof mica, or any suitable material for the purpose.

Figure 9 is a transverse section through vacuum tube Figure '7, taken online 9-9 illustrating the method of forming a spiral electrode havinghot and cold points.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1, A represents a vacuum tube havingtherein curved electrodes providing two concentrating reflectingsurfaces B-B', which have connections with supporting wires b-b',properly secured in the glass tube, which serve as conductors or leaderssealed in the glass, and which may be secured section through said 1,showing the mica to a battery connection or any other suitable source ofelectrical energy (not shown). These reflecting surfaces may be placedon the outside of the tube where the structure is the same as that shownin Fig. 1 except that the reflecting surfaces corresponding to thesurfaces B and B of Fig. 1 are placed outside of the tube, and throughthe reflected lines of force which pass into said vacuum tubeinfluencing the movements of the moving particles in the tube to anadvantage under certain conditions.

Between the reflecting surfaces B and B are three spiral electrodes, C,D and E, representing the filament, the grid and the plate. Theseelectrodes are placed in close parallel relationship with each other butspaced apart and held or secured with electrical connectors or leaderspassing through and sealed in the glass forming the tube and connectedto a battery or to any suitable source of electrical energy.

interposed between the grid D and plate or spiral E, is a mica disc orwasher F, which is shown in Figure 3. This washer acts as a dielectric,forming a condensing surface and operates similar to a Leyden jar. thefilament or any other source of heat, this disc F throws off gases whichserve as one method of connecting electrically the filament, grid andplate.

The filament, grid and plate C, D and E, may be in any shape or form,but are preferably flat or elongated spirals or plates, or both forpurposes above described. The two terminals or leaders 0 and 0 haveconnection with a battery or any other suitable source of electricalenergy (not shown). Leads d and c, extend respectively from the grid Dand plate E and serve as connecting wires. The wires 7:) and b may ormay not be connected to the filament or plate but may be connected upseparately. The filament. grid and plate C, D and E as shown in Figurel. are of the flat spiral form and are arranged in close proximity toeach other capable of producing a highly inductive effect, whichincreases the capacity of the tube. The concentrated and directed linesof force are shown at a in Figure 1.

In Figure 2, I have shown the filament, grid and plate, constructed inspiral form for use as shown as in Figure 1. When excited, they actinductively the same as an induction coil. This greatly increases thecapacity of the tube. The mica disc F, shown in Fig. 3, may beconstructed as a disc or washer, or it may be tubular in form (seeFigure 8) or any other desired shape. This washer or disc may also beconstructed of a thin layer of glass perforated with holes if desired toseparate the electrodes and like the mica disc prevent the electrodesfrom buckling and also acting as a support or frame work or may bearranged in tubular form, see Figure 8, to protect and separate thefilament from the grid. The mica or a substitute may be prepared with achemical of any of the active elements, metals or salts, which whenheated, gives off gases which influence the degree of vacuum. Any of theinert or highly active electro-positive and electro-negative gases maybe inserted in the tube to increase its efficiency.

The two reflecting surfaces B and B, Figure l. are positioned nearopposite ends of the tube A. The spiral electrodes C, D and E composingthe filament, the grid and the plate with a sheet of mica F interposedbetween the grids D and plate E, are positioned between said reflectingsur- When heated by til] faces. with.

The novel principle involved in the structures shown in Figs. 5, 6 and'7 is the movement of the energized particles or lines of force strikingthe curved reflecting surfaces which follow the heat and light rays,causing concentration of the material particles toward the center of thetube, thereby decreasing the electrical resistance withing the tube. InFigure 5, the arrows point to the direction in which the materialparticles or lines of force pass in going from one curved reflectingsurface to the other. This tube with the electrodes properly built andbalanced is an oscillatory tube, and not a valve acting tube. Thefilament circuit C at the point 0 may be of the shape shown, or anyother desired shape. The same thing is true in regard to Fig. '7.

In Fig. 6 the two reflecting surfaces are employed Without the centralfilament, with a solenoid on the outside of the tube. Every oscillationof the circuit on the outside of the tube drives the charged materialparticles within the tube so that they are thrown backwards and forwardswith every oscillation or reversal of the solenoid energy. While B inFig. 6; B in Fig. 5 indicate batteries, it will be understood that thereare other means of producing electrical energy other than the formshown. In the structure shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, the electrical energyresponds in the same manner as it does in the structure shown in Fig. 1.B are magnets.

In the form shown in Fig. 6 in the absence of light or heat in thecenter of the tube. these particles follow the oscillatory changeswithin the tube without the directional aid of the heat and light rayswhich in the other cases are thrown out from the heated filaments.

In the structure shown in Fig. 8, the movements are radically differentfrom those of the forms shown in Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and '7. In said Fig. 8there are practically three separate coils of wire which are inductivelyconnected, the inner one G of which may be made to serve the purpose ofa filament with or without being heated. The second or middle coil G canserve as a grid. This is of an induction coil formation which serves asan air or vacuum core induction coil or transformer. The center coil ofthe inner coil or filament G of Fig. 8 has surrounding it, a tubing Fwhich is made of a composition which is secured in the mica tubing inwhich the heated or gaseous particles cross the path from the heatedportion over past the grid to the outer coil.

Fig. 9 is a cross section showing a different construction in whichthere is a difierence in the size of the filament wire, the centralportion e being smaller than the outer portion e and consequently themore intense is the heat thrown out at that point. The coil has avarying heating surface from the center to the periphery thereof.

I am aware that many changes may be made without departing from theprinciples of my invention and I therefore do not wish to be limited tothe details shown or described.

I claim:

1. A vacuum tube having a plurality of inductively related spiralelectrodes therein, each electrode being progressively thicker in crosssection from one end to the other with the portion The mica disc may beentirely dispensed thicker in cross section surrounding that portion ofthe electrode thinner in cross section.

2. A thermionic tube, having curved concentrating electrodes therein,said electrodes having opposed reflecting surfaces, and other electrodesinterposed between said reflecting surfaces, the focal axis of saidreflecting surfaces intersecting one of said other electrodes.

3. A vacuum tube envelope having curved concentrating electrodestherein, said electrodes having opposed reflecting surfaces, and otherelectrodes interposed between said reflecting surfaces, each of saidother electrodes being in the form of a flat spiral, the focal axis ofsaid reflecting surfaces intersecting one of said other electrodes.

4. A vacuum tube envelope having curved concentrating electrodestherein, said electrodes having opposed reflecting surfaces, and otherelectrodes interposed between said reflecting surfaces and including afilament, a grid and a plate, the focal axis of said reflecting surfacesintersecting one of said other electrodes.

5. A vacuum tube envelope having curved concentrating electrodestherein, said electrodes having opposed reflecting surfaces, otherelectrodes interposed between said reflecting surfaces, and a solenoidsurrounding said envelope, the focal axis of said reflecting surfacesintersecting one of said other electrodes.

6. A vacuum tube housing a flat spiral filament, a flat spiral grid, aflat spiral plate, all adjacently disposed and inductively relatedwithout adjacent turns being short-circuited, and a flat dielectricdisk-like support interposed between said grid and plate.

7. A vacuum tube housing a flat spiral filament, a flat spiral grid, aflat spiral plate, all adjacently disposed and inductively relatedwithout adjacent turns being shortcircuited, and a flat dielectricdisk-like support interposed between said grid and plate, said supportcontaining material for emitting material particles when heated by thefilament.

8. A vacuum tube envelope housing a plurality of coil electrodes, eachelectrode having adjacent turns spaced from one another, said electrodesbeing inductively related to each other, and a dielectric member havingedges interposed between two of said electrodes, one of said edges beingseparated from said envelope.

9. A thermionic tube having reflecting electrodes cooperating with oneanother therein, and a thermionic cathode in said tube for supplyingelectrons adapted to impinge on one of said electrodes and a controlelectrode.

10. A vacuum tube envelope housing an electron emitting cathode, areflecting electrode mounted at one side of said envelope and adapted tobe impinged by electrons from said cathode, a cooperating reflectingelectrode mounted at the other side of said envelope, and an anodemounted in said envelope in the path of electrons from one of saidreflecting electrodes.

11. A vacuum tube envelope housing an electron emitting cathode, areflecting electrode mounted at one side of said envelope, a cooperatingreflecting electrode mounted at the other side of said envelope, acontrol electrode adjacent to said cathode, and means for generating amagnetic field about said envelope to control the electron stream fromsaid cathode.

HARRY PRESTON PRATT.

DISCLAIMER Re. 21,420.-Ha,rry Preston Pratt, Chicago, Ill. RADIOAPPARATUS. Patent dated April 9, 1940. Disclaimer filed February 21,1944, by Henry A. Allen, Howard T. Ballard, Morris S. Ballard, andRobert A. Swe, trustees of Pratt Radio Trust, assignee.

Hereby enter this disclaimer to claim 8 of said patent.

[Ofiieial Gazette March 21, I944]

